diff --git a/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/applet.js b/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/applet.js
index d6a246377a..4575f253fd 100644
--- a/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/applet.js
+++ b/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/applet.js
@@ -988,6 +988,8 @@ class CinnamonSoundApplet extends Applet.TextIconApplet {
 
         this.settings.bind("keyOpen", "keyOpen", this._setKeybinding);
         this.settings.bind("alwaysShowMuteInput", "alwaysShowMuteInput", this.on_settings_changed);
+        this.settings.bind("alwaysExpandApplications", "alwaysExpandApplications", this.on_settings_changed);
+        this.settings.bind("alwaysExpandOutputDevice", "alwaysExpandOutputDevice", this.on_settings_changed);                
 
         this.settings.bind("tooltipShowVolume", "tooltipShowVolume", this.on_settings_changed);
         this.settings.bind("tooltipShowPlayer", "tooltipShowPlayer", this.on_settings_changed);
@@ -1056,6 +1058,14 @@ class CinnamonSoundApplet extends Applet.TextIconApplet {
         this._applet_context_menu.addMenuItem(this._selectOutputDeviceItem);
         this._outputApplicationsMenu.actor.hide();
         this._selectOutputDeviceItem.actor.hide();
+        this._applet_context_menu.connect('open-state-changed', (menu, open) => {
+            if (open) {
+                if (this.alwaysExpandApplications && this._outputApplicationsMenu.actor.visible)
+                    this._outputApplicationsMenu.menu.open();
+                if (this.alwaysExpandOutputDevice && this._selectOutputDeviceItem.actor.visible)
+                    this._selectOutputDeviceItem.menu.open();
+            }
+        });
 
         this._inputSection = new PopupMenu.PopupMenuSection();
         this._inputVolumeSection = new VolumeSlider(this, null, _("Microphone"), null);
diff --git a/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/settings-schema.json b/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/settings-schema.json
index 7dd69c5d56..17721f2a79 100644
--- a/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/settings-schema.json
+++ b/files/usr/share/cinnamon/applets/sound@cinnamon.org/settings-schema.json
@@ -26,6 +26,18 @@
         "tooltip": "Always show the 'Mute input' switch in the context menu.",
         "default": false
     },
+    "alwaysExpandApplications": {
+        "type": "switch",
+        "description": "Always expand applications",
+        "tooltip": "Always expand the 'Applications' list in the context menu.",
+        "default": false
+    },
+    "alwaysExpandOutputDevice": {
+        "type": "switch",
+        "description": "Always expand output devices",
+        "tooltip": "Always expand the 'Output device' list in the context menu.",
+        "default": true
+    },
     "_knownPlayers": {
         "type": "generic",
         "default": ["banshee", "vlc", "rhythmbox"]